'Too sexy': China groupies swoon for swim king Sun Yang

He's been labelled a "drug cheat" and appears to revel in his reputation as swimming's enfant terrible -- but Chinese beefcake Sun Yang is making the sport sexy again.

The mean and moody 26-year-old is followed around the world by a small army of groupie cheerleaders who treat him like a rock star when he strides out for his races.

He has 32 million followers on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, and with his hulking frame, the controversial Sun is a true force of nature.

To the fans who fork out thousands of dollars to follow him, squealing and waving banners bearing cartoon images of the three-time Olympic champion, he's just a big softie -- albeit a hunky one with rippling muscles.

"Sun Yang is very sexy," 22-year-old Qu Zhiuan told AFP at the Asian Games in Jakarta, where their hero stormed to gold in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 metres freestyle.